8:42am Thursday 29th May 2008
THE schools with the worst dental health in Southampton can be revealed for the first time today.
Parents across the city can now find out if their child goes to one of the ten schools with the poorest dental records, where each pupil has an average of more than 2.5 decayed, missing or filled teeth.
As Southampton Primary Care Trust (PCT) prepares to push its case for adding fluoride to the city's tap water supplies, statistics from the PCT that will go before South Central Strategic Health Authority today reveal which schools have the pupils with the most missing teeth.
The statistics behind city's poor oral health - click here
Ten schools have five-yearold pupils with an average of at least 2.5 decayed, missing or filled teeth.
Eight schools have five-yearolds with an average of 2 to 2.5 decayed, missing or filled teeth, 11 schools have fiveyear- olds with an average of 1.5 to 2 problem teeth and 16 of the city's schools have fiveyear- olds with an average of less than 1.5 decayed teeth.
Southampton PCT wants to fluoridate the city's water supply to tackle the poor dental health.
The PCT's report that accompanies the statistics states: "Schools in deprived areas have higher scores."
Southampton City Councillor Edwina Cooke, who represents the Shirley ward where Shirley Warren Primary School was singled out as one of the worst, said: "I am sorry to hear these statistics, and quite surprised. The only way to tackle this is for children to clean their teeth and their parents to make them do it. The schools I know about have cut down on sugary drinks, which is most important.
"But I have to say I used to spend my milk money on sweets and it's natural for children to want that sort of thing.
"Personally I am not in favour of adding fluoride to the water - making sure children clean their teeth is what should be done."
Cancer risk from poor dental hygiene - click here
But Cllr Matthew Stevens, who represents the Bitterne ward and will sit on the city council's Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel when it is formed, added: "I am not surprised at the figures. It's down to our culture of diet.
Lots of our food has a high content of sugar.
"Personally, I think there is an argument for fluoridation. I think it would help. But there is a long debate to be had first."
Two thirds of city could get fluoride in water - click here
Schools with the worst dental health among five-year-olds:
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